As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
EARTH CHANGE
A man-made change in the natural or existing cover or topography
of any land. Earth change shall include the moving, removing, excavating,
mining, or extracting of any ground on any lot, parcel, or tract of
land within the Township, and earth change shall also include the
piling, stockpiling, dumping, or depositing of any ground on any lot,
parcel, or tract of land within the Township. Earth change shall not
apply to the practice of plowing, tilling soil, maintenance and conservation
practices for the purpose of crop production.
GROUND
Soil, topsoil, subsoil, overburden, sand, gravel, earth,
clay, marl, peat, rock, stone, aggregate, sludge and any other similar
materials or resources.
MAJOR EXCAVATION PROJECT
Any earth change activity which:
[Added 5-14-2007 by Ord.
No. 07-44]
A.
Exceeds 5,000 cubic yards of excavated material;
B.
Occupies an area of greater than five acres of land; or
C.
Is planned for, or actually takes, a period of more than six
months to complete.
OVERBURDEN
All of the ground and other materials which lie above sand,
gravel, clay, and other natural mineral deposits and also any ground
and other materials disturbed from their natural state in the process
of digging or open mining.
PERMIT
A valid and duly issued earth change permit, required by
this chapter, for any earth change within the Township.
PERSON
An individual, partnership, firm, corporation, association,
or any combination thereof; a city, village, township, county, or
other political subdivision of the state or state agency.
POND
An outdoor body of standing water accumulated in a natural
or artificially constructed basin, or partly above or below grade,
capable of holding water to a depth of greater than two feet when
filled to capacity.
PROJECT
Any and all earth change activities or operations of a person
on a single parcel, or on adjoining parcels, which are contiguous
for at least 30 feet, whether in process or proposed.
TOPSOIL
The upper part of the soil, which is the most favorable material
for plant growth. It is ordinarily rich in organic matter and is used
to top dress road banks, lawns and land affected by mining.